Desert Valley Auto Parts

by Lauren Morrison

“If you own an older or classic car, you know that as time goes by, good quality, original equipment replacement parts become harder and harder to come by. And when it comes to body and trim parts, nearly impossible. That quest is what lead our FYI reporter Lauren Morrison to Phoenix, Arizona where she hit the jackpot in junkyards.”

LM: “If you’ve seen MotorWeek before, you’ve probably seen the restored Cadillac that we’ve featured on the show a couple of times. Well, when the boys back at the shop found out I was coming here to Desert Valley Auto Parts, they gave me a mission. They want me to find a dark red interior driver’s side pull handle, for that Cadillac. Let’s see if I can do it.

JASON MCCLURE: “We started out as a little quarter acre lot. We’ve grown, we’ve moved about 6 times since then in a span of years, and basically now, we’re sitting on two 30 acre lots and we’re full.”

JASON MCCLURE: “I’m proud to say that I’ve got the biggest antique junkyard in the world.”

LM: BUT DON’T EXPECT TO FIND A PART FOR YOUR HONDA CIVIC AT THE PHOENIX, ARIZONA JUNKYARD.

JASON MCCLURE: “We deal mainly with 1975 and back, only American vehicles. We do just about anything. We don’t specialize in Mustang or Camaros. We do everything American across the board. Even, we call them the orphans, the AMC’s and what not.”

LM: “From wires, to wheels, or even a windshield or seat, if you need it, this place most likely has it.”

BUT BACK TO WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR…THAT PULL HANDLE! JASON PROMISES THERE IS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS.

JASON MCCLURE: “It looks a little chaotic, but actually, it is very organized. If you’re looking for a Chevy Impala, they’re only going to be in one section, same thing with a Firebird or anything else.”

LM: AND IT’S IN A SECTION OF PICKUP TRUCKS THAT I SPOT CLIFF LUCENTE ON A MISSION OF HIS OWN.

CLIFF: “I think that means we’re going to be successful.” “I think we have a winner!

LM: “I think so too!”

CLIFF MADE A MATCH! HOPING THAT CLIFF’S LUCK RUBBED OFF ON ME, I PICKED UP MY SEARCH AND HEADED TO THE CORRAL OF CADILLACS.

FACED WITH ROWS AND ROWS OF CADDIES, I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THE DESERT VALLEY AUTO PARTS TAG LINE.

Jason McClure: “Our tagline in our ad is pack a lunch and bring plenty of time because we really want you to spend as much as possible here.”

LM: WHILE THERE WERE SOME GLIMMERS OF HOPE…

“Oh boy! Is this what we’re looking for???”

AND SOME PRETTY COOL FINDS…

“I think I may have found the Griswold family station wagon…”

IN THE END THOUGH, I HAD TO PULL THE PLUG AND CALL IT QUITS.

“Well, the day is winding down and unfortunately, we didn’t find that inside door pull for our Cadillac, hopefully the boys back at the shop aren’t too mad about that, but this is a huge yard, and tomorrow is always another day!”